Today in History
1992 Apartheid in South Africa comes to an end
In a referendum, 68.7% of white South Africans voted to end the country’s racial segregation.
1973 The photograph known as Burst of joy is taken
Slava Veder won the Pulitzer Prize for his photograph of a former US prisoner of war being reunited with his family.
1969 Golda Meir becomes Israel’s first female Prime Minister
In her country, Meir was known as the “Iron Lady” long before British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher rose to power.
1959 The Dalai Lama flees Tibet for India
Tenzin Gyatso, the 14th Dalai Lama’s followers and advisers, feared for his life after a revolt against the Chinese erupted in Lhasa.
1941 The National Gallery of Art opens in Washington. D.C.
U.S. President Franklin D. Roosevelt opened the gallery, which today houses one of the world’s finest art collections.
Births On This Day, March 17
1967 Billy Corgan
American singer-songwriter, guitarist, producer
1948 William Gibson
American/Canadian author
1919 Nat King Cole
American singer, pianist, television host
1883 Urmuz
Romanian judge, author
1834 Gottlieb Daimler
German engineer, businessman, co-founded Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft
Deaths On This Day, March 17
2006 Oleg Cassini
French/American fashion designer
2005 George F. Kennan
American historian, diplomat, United States Ambassador to the Soviet Union
1956 Fred Allen
American comedian, actor, radio host
460 Saint Patrick
Irish missionary, bishop
180 Marcus Aurelius
Roman Emperor
